UF coach Mike White has been impressed with the vocal leadership of senior center Kevarrius Hayes. Against La Salle, Hayes lets his actions speak for him.

A mix of young and old helped the Florida Gators leave the La Salle Explorers searching for answers.

Meanwhile, coach Mike White’s team might have found some, along with a leader.

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UF senior center Kevarrius Hayes and freshman wing Keyontae Johnson scored the first 13 points of the second half as the Gators (2-1) pulled away en route to an 82-69 win Wednesday night in the O’Connell Center.

Hayes and Johnson each finished with 12 points, combining for 10-of-12 shooting. Hayes also had a team-high six rebounds.

'It was a loud 12 and 6,” White said. “We were so much better with him on the floor tonight. It was nice to see and hopefully a good example for his teammates.”

Hayes has looked to assume a leadership role on a team not as vocal as its coach would like. On Wednesday night, Hayes led the way with his production.

An 11-0 run featuring six straight points by Hayes turned a seven-point lead into an 18-point advantage at 53-35. Johnson, an Oak Hill (Va.) Academy product with a 41.5-inch vertical leap, capped the run with a high-flying dunk. He also had a sweet spin move at the foul line and finish at the basket.

“I feed off his energy,” Johnson said of Hayes. “He has the best energy on the team.”

White said the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Johnson played with the level of energy he hopes to see more consistently.

“He’s really athletic,” White said. “His process will be how to best showcase that. He’s working on improving his intensity level. He’s a high-level athlete.”

Following the pivotal run, the Gators’ youth movement continued to build the lead until La Salle (0-3) made a meaningless push during mop-up time.

After a tip-in by sophomore wing Deaundrae Ballard made it 55-36, freshman point guard Andrew Nembhard found redshirt freshman post player Isaiah Stokes with a no-look pass for a layup. Nembhard then dished the ball to Johnson trailing the fast break, leading to another vicious dunk.